George Simion Leads Romania's Presidential Election, Antonescu, Dan Compete for Second

Exit polls from Romania's presidential election indicate a significant lead for hard-right candidate George Simion, who is projected to win around 30-36% of the vote. Simion, leader of the nationalist Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR), is expected to face centrist candidate Crin Antonescu in the May 18 runoff, though some polls show a close contest for second place with Nicușor Dan. Simion's strong performance reflects a shift toward nationalism and Euroscepticism in Romania, with political analysts warning that his victory could increase the country's isolation, deter investment, and impact NATO's eastern front amid the ongoing war in Ukraine. The election follows political turmoil after the annulment of the previous presidential vote due to Russian interference, which had favored another far-right candidate. Simion opposes continued Western military aid to Ukraine and has aligned himself with aspects of Donald Trump's MAGA movement, though he maintains an officially pro-NATO stance. Diaspora votes have not yet been fully counted and could still influence the final outcome.